ready for some cereal?

[brightside]

DS is 4.5 months old and weighs about 16lb. He is bottle fed and usually takes about 38oz of formula a day.Each bottle about 7-8oz. He is a good night time sleeper generally and has not been fed in the night sicne about 10 weeks.  This week has been a nightmare for night wakings. He often wakes once or twice a night and we put the dummy back in and he settles after about 15 mins but this week has been terrible.

Mon: awake for 2 hours-wouldn't settle-very fussy
Tue: woke once but cried out in sleep 6 times and seemed to settle himself-we put this down to overtiredness from night before
Wed: usual couple of wakings
Thurs: awake for 2.5 hours-very fussy. Decided to feed. He took 5oz and then slept till morning. However, he would only take about 5oz in the morning instead of his usual 7
Fri: woke up 6 times! We didn't feed him though as he was settling quite quickly with the dummy.

Then last night (Sat) he woke at 9.30 really crying. This has NEVER happened before. I tried to settle him with the dummy and even picked him up but nothing would settle him. We normally do the DF at 10 anyway so just fed him early. He took about 5.5 oz and went to sleep. Then at 2.30 he woke and wouldn't settle. He had a kind of angry cry and kept spitting the dummy out. It was obvious he wasn't going to settle. I've not really heard him cry like this before. I decided after the early DF that maybe he was hungry and so fed him. He took a full 8oz bottle.    He then slept with no further wakings until 7am. I decided that maybe it was time to start a bit of cereal but this morning he took 5 oz and it was a struggle to get him to take anymore. He eventually had about 6 oz. I'm worried that feeding him in the night has meant that he won't take as much in the day and we'll need to feed him again tonight-vicious circle  He is very particular about how much he has. He won't take any more than he wants even if we try 10-15 mins later. Any ideas? Do you think he is ready for a bit of cereal?

He can sit well in a high chair and has been very interested in me eating for a while now.

[RachelC]

Did you notice night wakings closer to 4 months?  This could be a growth spurt, or an indication of the need for more than the formula. 
I would talk to the doctor about starting solids.  Some big babies are ready to begin solids early, which Tracy has mention in the books.

[brightside]

Yes the wakings do seem to have started more at 4 months. This week seems to have been the worst! He hasn't drained his bottles today though, in fact he has had 1-2 oz less each bottle. So now I'm thinking  he wasn't hungry in the night but why would he take 8oz? If I was to give him soilds wouldn't he just take less milk and therefore not actually take any more calories? Does there come a time when they don't actually want anymore milk, they need something else instead?

[*Natasha*]

The reason he didn't drink much during the day is he had so much at night and wasn't very hungry during the day. My DD had a big growth spurt at 4 months and found this is the time she was taking maximum feeds. How about clustering feeds in the late afternoon before bed? I know Tracey suggests to do this during a growth spurt.
I agree to get some advice from your doctor or pediatrican about starting solids early.

[brightside]

Thanks Natasha. I've tried clustering before but he just takes 2-3 smaller feeds instead of one bigger one. Its amazing how he knows EXACTLY how much to have! I decided after him taking smaller feeds yesterday to give him 4oz instead of 8 if he woke in the night and then offer cooled boiled water if he wanted more. He took the 4oz and then just 1oz of water and then slept ok until 7.30am. This morning he has had a little bit less than normal. I don't think he is hungry in the night but I think he now thinks he will get fed at this time. Tonight I'm just going to give him the water and see what happens. Do you think that would be ok?

[mom2liam]

Hi

This is exactlt what I am going through at the moment. My DS turned 4 months yesterday. I started cereal 1TBSP per day with the recommendation of the doctor. I spoke with the doctor agaon today as my LO is only taking 27oz per day, but he is 16lbs and 26.5 inches long...so she has suggested that I feed him 1TBSP 2 x per day 11am and then 6.30am...I'll let you know how things work out tonight.....

Fingers crossed.....You ay want to try it if it works for me...
Wendy

[mom2liam]

Hi Stacy

I don't add the cereal to the bottle I give it him seperately...

When I went to the doctors the other day and she said to start 1 TBSP 1 x per day I told her my concerns (read on this website) and that I didn't really want to give it to him yet. She said that she tells everyone to start trying cereal at 4 months, it's not to take place of any bottle but to get him used to swallowing and the spoon!!! However I then met a lady at a Mothers Group last week and her doctor said not to try cereal until 6 months, so I guess it just depends which doctor you go to!!!

Wendy